By Piranha T.

Francie knows there are other worlds besides the one she’s grown up in. Like the big city over the river, where children don’t have to scavenge the streets to find trash to sell to the local junkman, and people have enough to eat. But what would it even be like to live there? All she’s ever known is life on the streets, where her hardworking mother can barely make enough to support her family: Francie, her mother, her younger brother Neely, and their occasionally working father, widely acknowledged as an alcoholic. The world beyond the ragged streets of Brooklyn is unreachable to Francie and the others who live in New York’s slums.

Francie dreams of visiting the city, although she knows it is impossible. There is little hope of leaving Brooklyn, even as her family gathers pennies in a milk can, imagining gathering a whole fifty dollars to buy their own land. She has a hard life, but she accepts it. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is the story of how she grows up, overcoming hardships, finding work, learning the ways of that world and the one outside Brooklyn, too.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a partially autobiographical account of the author’s life in Brooklyn, New York just after the turn of the twentieth century. It is an amazing, compelling, and beautiful story. I don’t often prefer historical fiction, but this book was unusual; instead of focusing on the times themselves, it highlighted what happened in them. Although outside events were mentioned, this is a personal story, one of the rare books which makes you feel like the character and live her world as she would have a hundred years ago. Francie is a strong and sympathetic protagonist. This book makes you not just love it, but feel it, too. It is one of those classics which has stood the test of time, remaining accessible and real to the modern reader. I would highly recommend A Tree Grows in Brooklyn to readers ages eleven and up.

By Super Kitty

Ten-year-old Jesse Aarons gets up early each summer morning to run, sprinting as hard as he can as he trains to become the speediest kid in the third, fourth, and fifth grades. If he can win the races his classmates hold at recess, he won’t just be ‘some kid who likes to draw.’ It won’t matter that his sisters are always squabbling, his short-tempered mother makes him do most of the work around the house, and his father works such long hours that it feels like he’s never home. If he can get strong enough, Jess will be the fastest. Important. Special.

But just as the races are about to begin, a new kid—a new girl—joins the races and beats every boy competing—including Jess. Leslie Burke is considered by most to be pretty strange, and at first Jess wants nothing to do with her. But both of them are lonely, and as the weeks go by, they begin to form a friendship that will change their lives. Leslie has an incredible imagination, and one afternoon she and Jess invent Terabithia, a world of their own where they transform from outcast kids to courageous rulers.

Leslie tells Jess wonderful stories and leads him on fantastical imaginary adventures, but her most important gift to him is confidence in himself. When the two of them are together, Jess feels like nothing can stop them. But when he’s forced to face his greatest fear—alone—will Leslie’s guidance be enough?
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A Newbery Medal winner, Katherine Paterson’s story of friendship and loss has become a modern classic. Bridge to Terabithia touches on a wide array of themes and emotions, exploring grief, hope, and finding your place in the world—all through the eyes of a ten-year-old. Jess’ struggle for self-acceptance and a sense of belonging makes him a strong and believable lead character, and Leslie is all but irresistible, an extraordinary girl with a radiant imagination. Moving and powerful, Bridge to Terabithia is an excellent choice for book groups, and I would highly recommend it to readers ages ten and up. 

By Piranha T.

The story begins with an airplane crashing in the middle of the Sahara, and with the strange person the author finds there: a tiny stranger, who asks him to draw a sheep. The two slowly befriend one another and he learns the tale of the Little Prince: who came from a tiny planet with three volcanoes and a single beautiful flower but journeyed from it through the stars and finally to Earth, where he meets a fox and a snake and discovers the things which truly make life what it is.
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The Little Prince is one of those books which ensures you will never look at the world the same way again. It has a kind of magic, not in the words on the page but the deeper ones that lie beneath them. Despite this, it isn’t dull, or even with a set lesson like many kinds of fables; it is a story, beautifully written and sometimes slightly amusing, and though you cannot read it without finding the lesson beneath it, the author does not seem to expect that a lesson is all you will get out of it, nor is it; there is more to it than just the story and just the truth woven into it, something beyond description which almost all other stories like this lack, the thing which really changes the way a reader thinks about the story and makes it a book which you could read and read again. I would highly recommend this book to readers ages nine and up.

A note from Piranha T - This review was supposed to be posted on Monday, but due to a technical glitch it wasn't posted until today. Sorry!

By Piranha T.

Sabriel is used to danger. Her father, the necromancer Abhorsen, has taught her such things from a young age. She knows how to use the seven bells which are the root of the craft of necromancers, has journeyed through Death, and bound the creatures who lurk there. But despite this all, she hasn’t grown up in the magical and mysterious Old Kingdom, where she was born. Instead, she attends school in the modern realm of Ancelstierre, as far from anything magical as it is possible to get.

But Sabriel is pulled into an ancient conflict when Abhorsen disappears. Now, she must journey into the Old Kingdom, overcome dangerous creatures, and brave trials which she has never even imagined. And over her journey, she discovers that her father’s disappearance may just be part of a bigger plan—a plan orchestrated by one of the most powerful, nefarious beings she has ever encountered.
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Sabriel is an engrossing read, starring a capable, clever, and believable heroine. This book, widely acknowledged as a modern classic, is set in a well-developed fantasy world with intricate, dangerous magic and a plot with mysteries that keep you wondering at the ending. That said, Sabriel is a young adult book, and though it’s amazing when you’re old enough, there are parts which may be disturbing for younger readers. Because of that, I would highly recommend it (and the rest of the series) to high fantasy fans ages twelve and up.

By Super Kitty

Nine-year-old Cassie Logan knows the world isn’t fair. Like how she and her brothers have to walk miles to their school every day, rain or shine, while the children of white plantation owners get to ride the bus. Or how storeowners serve every white customer in the store before asking her what she wants to buy. No one seems to see her past the color of her skin. It’s not right, but in 1933, Mississippi doesn’t show any signs of changing.

Her family has something, though, which keeps them from losing hope. The land. For generations it’s given the Logans a source of income and pride that keeps them from being forced into sharecropping. But it can’t protect them from everything, and it draws the attention of people, powerful people, who would do anything to get their way.

The world isn’t fair, and everyone knows it. To accept the way things are is to be considered inferior, to be mistreated and abused. But change comes at a price, and to rebel is to put at risk everything close to your heart.
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Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry won the Newbery Medal, and it’s one of those books which completely deserves it. The author creates a setting and cast which truly seem real, and doesn’t shy away from the deplorable things which happened during that period in history. Cassie’s narration is strong and believable, and her family and friends are all stunningly human. The effects of racism and intolerance are far-reaching, and the story makes clear just how horrific they can be. I would highly recommend this powerful, unflinchingly honest book to readers ages 11 and up.

By Super Kitty

When Billy Colman, a boy growing up in the wild Ozark mountains, discovers an ad selling coon hounds, he feels as though his prayers have been answered. For years he’s longed for dogs to hunt with, and finally he has a chance to get them: it takes two years of careful saving, but at last he earns enough to buy the two puppies he’s been dreaming of. He names them Big Dan and Little Ann, and the three of them form a bond which other people wonder at. Unlikely friends they may seem, but soon Billy and his dogs become some of the most talented hunters in the mountains, gaining recognition by huntsmen young and old, and even winning a coon-hunting championship. But the untamed mountains are as dangerous as they are breathtaking, and the connection between boy and dogs is destined to be cut short…
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Where the Red Fern Grows is a moving, beautiful book, a classic which I think stands out for several reasons. Unlike many books today, there are relatively few characters mentioned by name, but those who are feel extraordinarily believable and real, clearly portraying Billy’s childhood world of a small but close family in the remote, sometimes perilous Ozarks. I admittedly have little interest in dogs, hunting, and the like, yet I was pulled in by the narration and writing even before the story had really begun. The tension and excitement of hunting with hounds translated vividly into writing, bringing the stunning setting into clear focus. At moments, I felt almost as though I was there with the characters, surrounded the sounds of a forest late at night. This is the story of a boy and his hounds, of hunting and tracking, and ultimately of the friendship between humans and their beloved canine companions, one that I would recommend to readers ten and up.

By Piranha T. and Super Kitty

Philias Fogg is not the sort to plan a fantastical trip around the world. A reclusive English gentleman, he divides his time between his home and the Reform Club, where he spends time with colleagues and plays whist. One night, however, a disagreement arises at the Reform Club—according to a newspaper article, it is now possible to go around the world in just eighty days, and although his companions think it impossible, Mr. Fogg bets that he can do it. Accompanied by his manservant Passepartout, he sets out immediately, traveling by steamship, train, elephant, sledge, and more, and overcoming all manner of storms, setbacks, and an inspector from Scotland Yard named Fix, who believes that he robbed the bank of England and is determined to stop him at all costs.

Around the World in Eighty Days is an entertaining read, although it does take a little bit to get into. There are funny characters, clever plot twists, and interesting facts about transportation and the world in general in the late 1800s. Full of humor, wit and adventure, we’d recommend Around the World in Eighty Days to readers ages 10 and up, not as much because it would be inappropriate, but because the language may be more difficult for younger readers to understand.

*Note: there are many different editions of Around the World in Eighty Days, in many different languages, so we did not include a publisher or copywrite, as it was translated from the original French to English several times.

By Piranha T. and Super Kitty

“In the land of Ingary, where such things as seven-league boots and cloaks of invisibility really exist, it is quite a misfortune to be the eldest of three.” So starts Howl’s Moving Castle, an amusing, clever, and fast-paced favorite among Piranha T. and Super Kitty.

Sophie Hatter is one such burdened individual, staying hidden away in her stepmother’s hat shop. She knows that nothing exciting will ever happen to her, but her life takes a turn for the worse—and the more exciting—when the nefarious Witch of the Waste notices her and transforms her into an old lady. Knowing that she can’t stay where she is, Sophie goes from her home and out into the world.

Her life gets very complicated all at once when she makes a bargain with a fire demon, tangles with the greatly feared Wizard Howl and his apprentice, and at the same time tries to free herself from the Witch of the Waste’s curse. For she’s about to discover that not only Howl, but herself as well, are much more interesting than first meets the eye.

We have read several things by Diana Wynne Jones, and have enjoyed all of them, but none have come close to Howl’s Moving Castle. It is one of those books that we have been recommending to everyone we know, kids and adults alike. Weaving in elements of classic fairytales (and sometimes making fun of them), Diana Wynne Jones creates an all-time favorite with Howl’s Moving Castle. We’d recommend it to ages 9 and up, to kids, teenagers and adults as well! And if you're into audiobooks, we'd recommend the narration by Jenny Sterlin. It's great!

Note: Howl’s Moving Castle was made into an animated film by Hayao Miyazaki. The book is very, very different—so whether you loved the movie or despised it, READ THE BOOK! This is one of those cases where the movie is not just different from the book, they are almost separate stories. 

By Piranha T.

High on Eld Mountain, the young wizard Sybel continues her father’s and grandfather’s collection of long-forgotten, magical creatures: Cyrin the boar, who knows the answers to all riddles but one; Gyld, a dragon who longs for its treasure; Moriah, the great black cat that rules the night; and many, many besides. Yet of all creatures, the one Sybel desires most manages to evade all her callings: the Lilaren, a beautiful white swan.

But Sybel’s life is about to change forever when a man comes, bearing a young baby who she must raise. Before long, she is pulled into the battle that goes on far beneath her home, into a world of power and deceit, love and terror, where all will soon seem to come at far too high a price.

This is by far one of my favorite books of all time, winner of the World Fantasy Award. Part of what makes it so magnificent is not only the characters, who are well-crafted and believable, but that you love them and care about what happens to them so much that you can understand everything too, and what they do in return.
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The story itself is one of the best plotlines I have ever read. It is so multi-layered and well written that it has a similar lyrical style to fantasy books like The Last Dragon and other masterpieces. I would highly recommend it to kids and adults twelve and up. It is one of those timeless books which adults can appreciate just as much as kids can, and I hope they will.

By Piranha T. 

​Deep in the forest, the sheltered Protectorate leaves the youngest baby in the town out in the woods every year, a sacrifice to the witch who lives in the forest, who it is said will destroy the village if the sacrifice is not appeased. When each child is taken into the woods, they leave sorrow them.

But despite what the people of the Protectorate believe, the witch who lives in the forest, Xan, is not only kind, but also has no inkling of why the children are left in the woods. Every year, she takes the children to the Free Cities across the forest, and, to nourish the babies on the long journey, she gathers starlight and feeds it to them.

One year, however, she accidently feeds the baby moonlight—filling the ordinary girl with boundless quantities of magic—and Xan decides she must bring the baby up in her cottage in the woods with the help of Fyrian, a Perfectly Tiny Dragon, and Glerk, a swamp monster with a deep love of poetry. The baby, whom she calls Luna, grows up with no knowledge of her magical potential, and as her thirteenth birthday draws nearer, her magic starts to emerge. And at the Protectorate, someone is putting a plan into action, to free the village from the witch once and for all…

The Girl Who Drank the Moon is an excellent book—it even won the Newbery Medal—and is a many-layered fantasy with magic and some funny parts, too. It is one of those books which you feel like everything works out perfectly, and all the little twists not only make sense, they make you feel ridiculous you didn’t notice them—they fit so perfectly. The characters are well-crafted and intriguing. This is an excellent book which I would highly recommend to all readers ages 10 and up looking for an excellent and well-written fantasy.

By Piranha T.

Ten-year-old Robert Linnet is the first to remark, “Why don’t we run away?” An after all, why not? The four Linnet children are stuck with their grandmother, who thinks children should be seen and not heard, while their father is away in Egypt. So, Nan, Robert, Timothy and Betsy escape. Soon they find their Uncle Ambrose, who they grow to love, and his gardener, Ezra. And there they stay.

However, the real fun begins when they meet Lady Alicia—a kind old lady whose son and husband disappeared long ago. The Linnets decide to find the missing Valerians, but will they find them? Of will the possible witch Emma Cobley and her unusual black cat thwart their plots before they can even really begin their search?

I liked Linnets and Valerians because even though it was also a fun story about children running away, there was also excitement and magic, even though you may not get that idea from the cover. However, it was also an adventure with plenty of excitement and fun. I would highly recommend ­Linnets and Valerians to readers ages nine and up.
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Note to older readers: just because I say ages nine and up does not mean older readers should snub it—I enjoyed it quite a lot and think older readers will as well.

By Piranha T.

The Robber Hotzenplotz begins one morning when Kasperl’s grandmother is sitting outside, using the coffee mill she got for her birthday. Before she knows what has happened, the Robber Hotzenplotz steals the coffee mill. However, although he is so tricky he has not yet been caught by the police, Kasperl and her friend, Seppel, devise a plan to get back the coffee mill. Although at first they do not realize it, the Robber Hotzenplotz has more tricks up his sleeve then the two friends suspected—as well as help from a wicked magician with something a little more than unusual in his cellar.

​The Robber Hotzenplotz is an amusing, fast-paced story with several funny plot twists and fun characters. It was originally published in Germany and it is definitely hard to pronounce some of the names, but the plot is entertaining and I did not get mixed up because of them. I highly recommend The Robber Hotzenplotz to readers ages 9 and up. 

By Piranha T.

When Simon, Jane and Barney Drew embark on a train to Cornwall, England, none of them suspect what they will find there. Staying with their parents and their mysterious Great-Uncle Merry in a cottage by the cliffs, they discover an ancient manuscript in the house’s attic. It tells of the hiding place of an old grail, which is a key part to defeating the rising forces of evil, the Dark. With the help of their Great-Uncle Merry, who knows more about the Dark than anyone expected, they begin to follow a trail of clues that were left over nine centuries ago. But when it comes to the final moments of the quest, can they save the grail and stop the Dark?

Over Sea, Under Stone is one of the best books I have ever read. It is the first book in The Dark is Rising Sequence, a five-book series which I loved every word of. I enjoyed Over Sea, Under Stone because it was a good fantasy with some magic, and I liked how it was about ordinary children having adventures, although, as I may have pointed out, their adventures were not at all ordinary. I would highly recommend Over Sea, Under Stone to readers ages eight and up.

The audiobook version was also great - my whole family enjoyed the entire series!